Best 224, high bc, coyote bullet.

204 AR

204 AR

Well-known member
So contemplating another build, I love the 6mm's. I love how they put coyotes down when they get the chance.

But I'm thinking of a new 22 cal of some sort and the barrels are all twisted for heavier bullets these days so I figure why not try one. I'm thinking along the lines of a bc close to .4, with a case that will push it to 3k fps at least in an AR. There are several that should do that based on the Grendel and 6.8. My question is which bullet, it looks like the 73 eld and 69 tmk are candidates along with others I suppose. So how do these heavies do on coyotes?
 
I am pushing a 69TMK at a bit over 3500....so far its been very impressive on killing stuff. I am not sure how it will do at 500fps slower.
 
Just yesterday I described the 80.5 Berger at 3350 to be “too much.”

If 3,000 FPS is what you’re looking at I would either shoot a 60 gr vmax a little faster, or try the Berger 64 gr flat base.

I don’t think anything short of a Hellcat would be reliable enough for me with a 75 ish bullet out of an AR.

People boast all the time of how their 223 is more than plenty. I’m just not that kind of guy. I don’t care if they’re running, standing, or in the next zip code, I’m going to try and kill them... if you’re a “behind the shoulder” kinda guy then the 73 ELD should work great.
 
Last edited:
I shoot the 69 tmk out of one of my 223AI's and they are great. It seems to me like they would be a great option in the 22 Grendel/SPC/Valkyrie/Nosler chamberings.
 
I did some more looking and by the numbers the 75 eld might be hard to beat. .460 bc at 3k?

Then you run the numbers, and I have rounds that do basically the same thing. 87 gr vmax at 3k does real well. 87 vmax at 3300+ out of the wssm does substantially better but not sure what it would do at close range for damage. 223 wssm should push the 75 at 33 to 3400, but again basically what I already have.

I guess it's something to think about. If fur was worthless it would be easier to pick a round. Flattest, baddest round wins.
 
Originally Posted By: 204 ARI did some more looking and by the numbers the 75 eld might be hard to beat. .460 bc at 3k?

Then you run the numbers, and I have rounds that do basically the same thing. 87 gr vmax at 3k does real well. 87 vmax at 3300+ out of the wssm does substantially better but not sure what it would do at close range for damage. 223 wssm should push the 75 at 33 to 3400, but again basically what I already have.

I guess it's something to think about. If fur was worthless it would be easier to pick a round. Flattest, baddest round wins.




Your on the right track.
I left the fast twist 224 a while ago because of barrel life. With modern bullet selection the 243 bullets do all, kill very well and barrels live a bit longer.

)))But if I were still running a 224, the tipped 69gr would be my build around with just enough twist, 8 , to play with the 75gr a-max and 77gr Tmk.
 
When you're reaching out 400 yards and better, awful difficult to match the killing power of a 6MM/243, when using 224 diameter bullets.

I use the 77 grain Nosler in the 223 AR with good results but a buddy uses the 243 and he takes the shot when the coyote crosses the county line.
 
Originally Posted By: Catdog1Not on the heavy side but why not go with the 53gr.Vmax?

I've been shooting the 53gr Vmax out of my .223's and 223AI since they first came out. My experience with them on coyotes has been they work extremely well.
 
Originally Posted By: JoeyJWhen you're reaching out 400 yards and better, awful difficult to match the killing power of a 6MM/243, when using 224 diameter bullets.

I use the 77 grain Nosler in the 223 AR with good results but a buddy uses the 243 and he takes the shot when the coyote crosses the county line.

When using a fast .22, this is not the case. At all.
 
Originally Posted By: liliysdadOriginally Posted By: JoeyJWhen you're reaching out 400 yards and better, awful difficult to match the killing power of a 6MM/243, when using 224 diameter bullets.

I use the 77 grain Nosler in the 223 AR with good results but a buddy uses the 243 and he takes the shot when the coyote crosses the county line.

When using a fast .22, this is not the case. At all.

My 22-6mm is a good example
 
Id love to see a 70 some odd grain 22 caliber varmint bullet. I don’t care for exits. I could care less about the fur, but don’t like the mess either. I haven’t used a heavy 22 bullet that didn’t exit most of the time. I ordered 1 box of 64 gr Bergers to try out. I’m not even going to do load development, just load 10 or 15 and go hunting.
 
Originally Posted By: CZ527Are you saying you don’t think they’ll die if the bullet doesn’t exit?


Of course not.....but I do contend that the more damage inflicted, the deader they are.
 
Originally Posted By: liliysdadOriginally Posted By: CZ527Are you saying you don’t think they’ll die if the bullet doesn’t exit?


Of course not.....but I do contend that the more damage inflicted, the deader they are.

Enter the 65vmax 6mm projectile... If it doesn't exit, they are jelly inside. If it does exit, you don't have to skin them.
 
So a little off track here but some good info none-the-less. I'm gathering that at modest velocities the larger .224 target bullets may not be that reliable, and at high velocities they make a mess. Like was noted there is probably a market for a 70+ grain .224 varmint bullet with bc to match the target bullets.

And there really isn't much in 6mm for larger varmint bullets. The 87 vmax kind of stands alone, and as good as it is an update like the eld got could up the bc significantly IMO.
 
Originally Posted By: MerditOriginally Posted By: liliysdadOriginally Posted By: CZ527Are you saying you don’t think they’ll die if the bullet doesn’t exit?


Of course not.....but I do contend that the more damage inflicted, the deader they are.

Enter the 65vmax 6mm projectile... If it doesn't exit, they are jelly inside. If it does exit, you don't have to skin them.

I shot those the last 6 or 7 years. In all that time, I had one coyote get up, probably just a bad hit.
 


Write your reply...
Back
Top